I'm often asked, "I have a little chip in my tooth, should I get it fixed?" When the tooth chips, the dentin — a softer bone-like tissue that covers root — becomes exposed. Unlike enamel, which is our tooth’s natural defense against decay, dentin will RAPIDLY decay when bacteria gets inside the chipped part of the tooth. Even if the chip is tiny, PLEASE do not ignore it — see your dentist and get it fixed right away or else it will become 10 times worse before you know it.